[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 88 (Monday, May 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11082]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 9, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Platanthera praeclara 
(Western Prairie Fringed Orchid) for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a technical/agency draft recovery 
plan for the threatened Platanthera praeclara (western prairie fringed 
orchid). This terrestrial orchid is currently known to occur in 74 
populations in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North 
Dakota, Oklahoma, and the Canadian province of Manitoba on Federal, 
state, county, township, and private land. The Service solicits review 
and comments from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before August 8, 1994 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting Chief, Division of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal 
Drive, Fort Snelling, 55111-4056 (telephone: 612/725-3276). Written 
comments and materials regarding the plan should be addressed to Zella 
E. Ellshoff, Regional Botanist, at the above address. Comments and 
materials received are available on request for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zella E. Ellshoff at the above address 
and telephone number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the Service's endangered species program. To help 
guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to prepare recovery 
plans for most of the listed species native to the United States. 
Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation 
of the species, establish criteria for the recovery levels for 
downlisting or delisting them, and estimate time and cost for 
implementing the recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), requires the development of recovery plans for listed 
species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a 
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988, 
requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and 
comment be provided during recovery plan development. The Service will 
consider all information presented during a public comment period prior 
to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other 
Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    Platanthera praeclara (western prairie fringed orchid) is currently 
known to occur in the western Central Lowlands and eastern Great Plains 
of the United States (in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, 
North Dakota, and Oklahoma) and the Interior Plains of south-central 
Canada (in Manitoba). Habitat includes fire- and grazing-adapted 
communities including unplowed, calcareous prairies and sedge meadows, 
old fields, and roadside ditches. The major threat to the species is 
the destruction of habitat for cropland. Habitat alteration due to land 
use practices (burning, grazing, and mowing) and hydrologic change 
(filling of wetlands) also adversely affects the species. Recovery 
efforts will concentrate on protecting and maintaining self-sustaining 
populations in habitat known to support extant populations in 
applicable physiographic regions of each state within the species' 
historical range. These actions include, but are not limited to: 
Identifying and searching potential habitat, maintaining habitat of 
known populations as native prairie, conducting appropriate research 
and monitoring, developing and implementing habitat management plans 
that sustain and enhance populations of the species, disseminating 
information about the species to a variety of audiences, and providing 
the highest level of legal protection appropriate for all populations.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan 
described. All comments received by the date specified will be 
considered prior to approval of the plan.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1433(f).

    Dated: May 3, 1994.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-11082 Filed 5-6-94; 8:45 am]
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